MENU MENU : CONTRASTE : Jules Niang

The chef of Petit Ogre in Lyon, Jules Niang, has gained recognition for a cuisine that builds bridges between French and African culinary traditions.

Born to a Senegalese mother and a Mauritanian father, and raised along the Senegal River in Mauritania, Niang draws on both cultures to create a distinctive culinary identity rooted in contrast, dialogue, and exchange.

This book is part of the MENU MENU series, a collection of small-format books centered around conversations with leading figures in the culinary world. This volume features an in-depth interview with Jules Niang.

Throughout the interview, he reflects on his childhood, his journey as a chef, his approach to connecting different cultures and terroirs, and his belief that cooking has the power to bring people together.

As suggested by the title Contraste, the book explores not opposition, but the richness that emerges when different cultures meet and create something new.

The final pages include eight recipes inspired by both French and African culinary traditions, illustrating the dialogue between the two worlds that defines Niang's cuisine.

Though modest in size, this volume offers a thoughtful introduction to Jules Niang's philosophy and his vision of a contemporary gastronomy that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries.